"The pirate alliance operating in West Blue continues to expand its power. We are currently responding with a hastily assembled mobile unit, but the enemy's main force, believed to be under central command, has yet to be confirmed, leaving us at a disadvantage."
At Navy Headquarters, daily meetings were being held to gather intelligence on the pirate alliance.
"According to Admiral Aokiji and the pirate 'Black Cat' cooperating with us on site, there is a possibility that the pirate alliance is focusing on burning down the World Government member nations of West Blue rather than simple looting."
Whispers of "The Black Cat again?" and "That Black Cat?" began to rise from all around.
Meanwhile, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the Vice Admirals, and Momonga, who had been promoted in the recent reorganization, wore complex expressions as they reviewed the damage reports that had been submitted, their faces turning pale.
"This is so well-organized it could be used as a textbook for paperwork. If only the content weren't so headache-inducing."
The chief strategist, Tsuru, reviewed the documents, which included estimates of the scale of the damage, illustrations of how the fields and buildings were set ablaze, photographs with annotations explaining the basis for the illustrations, and graphs clearly showing the damaged areas and the number of evacuees by gender and age group.
The problem was that these documents had been created not by the Navy, but by a group of pirates.
"The World Government is currently advancing material aid to the affected countries, and it has been decided that our headquarters forces will escort the aid."
Here, Sengoku's face twisted slightly.
This is because he, as the Fleet Admiral, had no knowledge of this decision. Just before the meeting, he was informed of the decision unilaterally, and even Sengoku, who is usually calm, could not suppress his anger, including about the pirates.
"Meanwhile, the West Blue Regional Headquarters has captured and destroyed 25 pirate alliance ships, but the pirate alliance is increasing its numbers even more."
A map of West Blue. There are several X marks above the member nations listed on the map.
"Currently, 37 member nations have been affected. In all cases, the pirates first set fire to the fields, then move on to the towns. Taking advantage of the chaos, they loot supplies and abduct the citizens of the member nations to an unknown location."
"A significant number of the abducted citizens appear to have been transported elsewhere, but their destination remains unknown."
"Of the pirates we have captured, only a few were directly involved with the alliance. Most were likely former citizens whose countries were burned down and joined the pirates out of desperation. As a result, intelligence gathering has been slow..."
***
"Damn it, the Navy brass doesn't even realize they're being used for a 'manhunt'?"
In the capital of the Mogwa Kingdom stands Mogwa Castle, the symbol of the kingdom.
Just like during the Mopchi incident, we've converted one of the rooms in the castle into a meeting room, where I, Daz, Robin, Bege, and the Navy brass, including Kuzan, are gathered.
...What is this gathering?
The Royal Guard is working with other Marines to guard the shelters and distribute food. I thought it would be better to leave it to the Marines, but Bege strongly advised me to include us as well, so we are working together with the Marines after getting Kuzan's approval for a joint operation.
Mihawk seemed to have something on his mind, so I gave him Toya with a Den Den Mushi and let him go as he pleased to look around the burned-out village.
King Mogwa had been brutally murdered, and there was no sign of the queen, prince, princess, or the many concubines and servants who should have been there. They were probably taken away.
"Bege, explain. I don't have all the details."
"Ugh, fine... Those here should know this, but... not long ago, there was a huge trade in 'Marine slaves' in the underworld."
Some of the Marines might not have known about this. A few of them looked shocked.
(Bege is deliberately acting like a thug...)
"Normally, humans are sold at human markets for around fifty thousand berries. Those with a decent build or good looks might fetch a higher price, but each deal requires tedious negotiations. In contrast, Marine slaves, despite being carefully selected, were traded for at least three million berries."
Even Kuzan grimaced at that.
Well, I guess it can't be helped. I heard from Kuzan about the condition of the Marines who managed to return from their captivity, and it was too terrible and too cruel. I felt an unusual sense of mission, even though it's not like me, that the slave culture of the Celestial Dragons really needs to be changed.
"Kuro crushed that. You should know about that, right? Admiral Aokiji."
"Well... I was there when this kid stormed into the regional headquarters alone."
(He went out of his way to explain it from there to prevent ordinary Marine troops from rebelling against us... He played the role of the villain to draw attention to himself...)
As always, he's a tough guy.
He's spreading rumors carefully to nip any potential chaos in the bud.
(He sent most of his own troops to defend Mopchi because he was worried that they would run wild against the Marines.)
Bege's men have come to respect us since the battle with Germa, but there are still plenty of hotheads among them.
(But that would make it seem like you're supporting me, so the top two here would be me and Kuzan. Is that okay?)
"Well, the slave trade with the Marines fell through because of what happened afterward... but that doesn't mean the buyers are gone. In fact, the goods they had reserved were suddenly canceled, and to make matters worse, the slaves they had already purchased were forcibly retrieved. The buyers are naturally angry, and their anger is directed at the broker who arranged the deal."
As for me and Daz, I don't care, but did you deliberately push Robin to the side so you could smoke a cigar like a thug? You show that kind of consideration every now and then, so even after what happened, the others are starting to trust you, you bastard.
"Everyone knows how scary the buyers are, right? Of course the broker was in a panic. He had to make up for the loss at all costs. That's why he needed rare slaves that could fetch a high price, or goods of equal value. Kuro, your battle with the 'Marine Hunters' was exactly what he needed."
"...The Fish-Men who were captured back then, and Hancock and the others?"
"Yeah. Well, the Fish-Men and the Kuja were just accidents, but... they're dragging in bounty hunters who operate in the gray areas, trying to gather anything that might fetch a high price, but you don't just find something like that easily."
"Huh..."
Kuzan murmurs in understanding.
"So it's about numbers, is it? Capone Bege."
"That's right, Aokiji. They're capturing people indiscriminately and offering them up. Human traffickers are buying them up at prices higher than the market rate, and there are plenty of people willing to sell them."
"What do they do with those who don't meet their standards?"
When asked this, Bege laughed sarcastically,
"If they don't like them, they just kill them on the spot... Or maybe they're collecting them as toys for some kind of game, like target practice or something."
My head hurts...
Even with my knowledge, it seems like something like that could happen with the Celestial Dragons.
"Let me tell you, there are some of you Marines who are participating in 'human hunting' to make extra money. They make up some excuse and attack non-member countries."
Hearing this, the Marines start to get angry, shouting things like, "That's ridiculous!" and "Don't joke around, you mafia!"
Kuzan, who didn't know about this, looks over here in surprise.
"Kuro?"
"Unfortunately, it's true, Admiral Aokiji."
I was surprised when I heard about it too.
That's why we disguised our base on the uninhabited island, where we were hiding Fish-Men and merfolk who were easy targets for them, and quickly built escape routes, while also increasing surveillance to an inconspicuous level. Fortunately, the Navy didn't come here...
"Non-member countries are not recognized as having human rights. So... you know how it is."
"Well, that's true, but... really?"
I wonder if it's okay to act like that in front of his subordinates, but I guess that's just a reflection of his character.
"But I see. So, the many people who were taken away..."
"Probably personnel for that purpose. There are many unclear points, but it seems that most of those taken were children or young people, around 30 years old or younger."
"As Kuro and Mihawk predicted, their primary goal is probably to burn everything, including crops, but this is just a side job for extra money."
(Additionally, reducing the labor force to delay post-disaster recovery is likely a factor as well.)
The more unstable the situation, the farther recovery seems, and the deeper the despair, the more extreme the actions become.
Either people lose the will to do anything, or they start taking from others.
"Commander Aozora, have you located the enemy's headquarters yet?"
"No, we haven't. Are the kidnapped people and stolen supplies in the hands of the core group?"
"Probably."
Even if their main goal is to burn everything, they need a lot of supplies to move so many people.
"The enemy has two objectives. The first is to burn everything before the harvest season to push the allied nations into a corner and ignite the flames of war. The second is to push the people into desperation and turn them into bandits or rioters."
"...This isn't a hastily conceived plan, is it?"
"No. And while the first objective is understandable, the second requires a certain amount of supplies to move people. Food to use as bait, or weapons to serve as kindling."
There are similarities to the previous Marine slave incident. It has a similar smell. But this time, I'm concerned that they're doing it openly instead of hiding.
(If it were that rotten sunglasses guy, they'd be more secretive.)
The Marine slave incident was exposed, and those involved took over and started doing whatever they wanted? But those who managed to hide from the Navy's investigation aren't ordinary people.
Who are our enemies...? Is it really that pink guy?
"Bege, keep focusing on gathering information as usual."
"Alright, got it. The other families also see the pirate alliance as a nuisance. The five... no, the four major families are probably desperate to find them. Let's gather information from there."
"Well, in situations like this, the underworld folks are stronger, I guess. So, Kuro..."
"...Will you accept the offer I made the other day?"
Now one of the Navy's top warriors, a man near the pinnacle of the Navy organization, sighed and scratched his head.
"I mentioned it to Sengoku when I reported. I can't decide on my own."
"...So?"
Depending on the Navy's moves, we might have to declare war immediately.
As he was thinking this, Kuzan sighed again and said,
"He said, 'You're the one I trust.'"
Alright!
"From this point on, the Navy will temporarily enter into a ceasefire agreement with the Black Cat Pirates and work together to deal with the massive fire. Here's the agreement. Read it carefully and sign it."
"If anything happens, he said he'll negotiate."
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I'm truly sorry for all the trouble! And thank you so much!
"We will send a formal thank-you letter to Fleet Admiral Sengoku later."
"I think that's a good idea. Tsuru and Zephyr also liked your letter."
I should remember that letters can also be weapons.
***
"Ugh. Sorry for making you come all this way."
An unnamed island.
It was supposed to be an uninhabited island, but from the outside, you couldn't see the houses and other buildings that had been constructed there.
In a cave within the island. The entrance, which was already difficult to see, was now blocked, and there were two wet figures in a hidden harbor that should only be accessible through a secret passageway used by Fish-Men.
"I heard that people I know live here. But I heard they're human pirates, so I'm scared."
A small octopus Fish-Man child had arrived at the hidden harbor of the island.
Standing beside him was an elderly man, protecting the child.
"What? We rescued him when he was shipwrecked. It's nothing."
Did you hear voices coming from the hidden harbor?
It should be sealed off now. Regular maintenance starts the day after tomorrow.
Yeah, the entrance is blocked, and we sank sharp rocks at the exit just in case. I don't think anyone can get in...
"Could it be the pirates we were warned about by Kuro?"
"Call the guards. We merfolk will check the surroundings from the hidden passage, just in case."
"Oh, they've already been found."
"I hope they'll listen to us..."
"Ha ha ha. You're a Fish-Man, Hachi. They'll at least listen to us... But."
There were two empty ships, one that looked more like a transport ship than a pirate ship due to its lack of weapons, and the other surrounded by docks and lumber processing equipment. Above all, there was no sign of violence or blood, which is common in pirate bases, and the elderly man frowned.
"I heard rumors along the way here..."
And there, hanging from the walls meticulously carved and polished, were flags.
The man, the pirate, the legend, stroked his neatly trimmed beard and smiled faintly at the flag bearing the mark of a black cat with three claws.
"So it's true that pirates can be unlike pirates... The Black Cat Pirates."
***
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